Anwer Hussain
is a Senior Vice President at CHS Inc. Anwer grew up in Karachi where he developed his fondness for ghazals. He has been in United States since 1972. His fondness for ghazal was re-kindled when he visited a friend, in the late eighties, in Toronto. His friend sang some of the old nostalgic Indian songs while his wife played harmonium. Upon his return to Minnesota Anwer decided to purchase a harmonium and learnt how to play it along with vocals. This practice continued despite his demanding travel and job responsibilities. He later learned the art of ghazal singing through a very seasoned harmonium and ghazal singer Guru Chandan Ji from Nagpur, India. Anwer has continued to make progress in this hobby and often performs for his friends as well as twin cities schools.

Shakil Siddiqui
is a Minnesota resident for last thirty five years and is director of business development at Twin City Fan Companies. Shakil learnt Tabla from local Tabla Ustad Pavan Allalaghatta and continues to study tabla under his guidence. He accompanies local ghazal singers in Minnesota. Shakil was exposed to music while growing up in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. He never had an opportunity to learn musical instrument. Minnesota has a growing population of Indian and Pakistanis and playing for local community has become a great hobby for Shakil.

Raza Hasan
is the CEO of TimeSolv.com.  Raza coincidentally discovered old Indian karaoke music about five year ago.  He was attending a party at a friend’s house in Woodbury.  Karaoke equipment at this party was a surprise but everyone enjoyed singing. Since Raza had fun singing with his friends, he purchased the software and sound system and has been singing old Indian and Pakistani songs at small gatherings to entertain friends.  His musical interest grew after joining Anwer Hussain and Shakil Siddiqui who have over the years,  extended their guidance and encouragement to him. Raza has been taking lessons from Dr. Pooja Goswaami in semi-classical music and is a a member of Indian Music Society of Minnesota.  Raza finds that pursuit of music is a very relaxing hobby.

Performance by Bipasha Mukherjee accompanied on tabla by Sudipta Tripathy

Bipasha Mukherjee
Bipasha was introduced to Indian classical vocal music by her mother Mrs. Nivedita Mukherjee. Thereafter she received training from Mr. B.K. Roy for few years and subsequently from renound Maestro Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty for almost 12 years both at Sangeet Research Academy and Srutinandan School of Music in Kolkata, India. Bipasha also learnt Karnataki music from Maestro Dr. Balmurali Krishnan for a brief period of time. She has given many stage performances and TV auditions in Kolkata,India. She has won many awards in vocal competitions. Bipasha has been living in Twin Cities since 2007 and performing regularly in many community events.

Jiya Moraa Na Laage

Thurmi
Composed in two tails
Dadraa & Kaharbaa

Shankara Kare Damaru Baje

Shiva Wandana (Tribute to Lord Shiva)
Composed in rag Nat Vairo

Jaaun Kahan Tyaji Charana

Bhajan
Composed by Tulsidasji

Aruno Kanti Kego

Popular Bengali Song of Kaji Nazrul Islam
Composed in raga Aher Vairo

Joko Sutrisno & Sumunar, Indonesian Music and Dance group .

A graduate of the Academy of Performing Arts in Surakarta, Central Java, Joko is a gifted Javanese gamelan performer, composer and teacher. He directed the gamelan ensemble at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, before coming to Minnesota in 1995. From 1995-2002 he served as music director for The Schubert Club’s gamelan program. He has collaborated with Katha Dance Theater, Ragamala Music and Dance Theater, Zeitgeist and Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater. Joko is an adjunct faculty member at Hamline University and the University of Minnesota.

Performers Accompanying Joko are:

Naomi Shinoda, Aimee Thostenson, Martha Mockus, Neal Hines, Nanda Sutrisno(dance), Tri Sutrisno (dance), Susannah Smith, Aaron Victorin-Vangerud, Lars Christensen, Daniel Furuta

Neelam Malhotra & Group
Choreography by Neelam Malhotra

Pushpanjali

Raag Natai Taal Adi
An introductory dance seeking the blessings of Lord Ganesha
Dancers Aditi Jariwala and Puja Patel

Kirtanam- Bho Shambho

Raag Revati Taal Adi
A Dayanand Saraswati composition that extols the virtues of Lord Shiva.
Sung by Sudha Raghunathan.
Dancer Aditi Kulkarni

Bhajan – Lajja Mori Rakho

A Hindi bhajan sung by Swami Haridoss
Describing the Draupadi cheer-haran scene from the Indian epic Mahabharata.
Dancer Neelam Malhotra

Tillana

Raag Kadankutuhalam Taal Adi
The concluding piece of a Bharatanatyam recital is a pure dance highlighting complex, rhythmic patterns, ending with a small prayer.
Dancers Aditi Kulkarni, Divya Pillai and Meera Viruru.

Anwer Hussain
is a Senior Vice President at CHS Inc. Anwer grew up in Karachi where he developed his fondness for ghazals. He has been in United States since 1972. His fondness for ghazal was re-kindled when he visited a friend, in the late eighties, in Toronto. His friend sang some of the old nostalgic Indian songs while his wife played harmonium. Upon his return to Minnesota Anwer decided to purchase a harmonium and learnt how to play it along with vocals. This practice continued despite his demanding travel and job responsibilities. He later learned the art of ghazal singing through a very seasoned harmonium and ghazal singer Guru Chandan Ji from Nagpur, India. Anwer has continued to make progress in this hobby and often performs for his friends as well as twin cities schools.

Shakil Siddiqui
is a Minnesota resident for last thirty five years and is director of business development at Twin City Fan Companies. Shakil learnt Tabla from local Tabla Ustad Pavan Allalaghatta and continues to study tabla under his guidence. He accompanies local ghazal singers in Minnesota. Shakil was exposed to music while growing up in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. He never had an opportunity to learn musical instrument. Minnesota has a growing population of Indian and Pakistanis and playing for local community has become a great hobby for Shakil.

Raza Hasan
is the CEO of TimeSolv.com.  Raza coincidentally discovered old Indian karaoke music about five year ago.  He was attending a party at a friend’s house in Woodbury.  Karaoke equipment at this party was a surprise but everyone enjoyed singing. Since Raza had fun singing with his friends, he purchased the software and sound system and has been singing old Indian and Pakistani songs at small gatherings to entertain friends.  His musical interest grew after joining Anwer Hussain and Shakil Siddiqui who have over the years,  extended their guidance and encouragement to him. Raza has been taking lessons from Dr. Pooja Goswaami in semi-classical music and is a a member of Indian Music Society of Minnesota.  Raza finds that pursuit of music is a very relaxing hobby.

Zaraawar Mistry
Born in India, Zaraawar Mistry is an actor, writer, director, teacher and producer in the Twin Cities. He was co-founder of the Center for Independent Artists (2001-2005), and an Associate Artistic Director at Theater Mu (1997-1999). As an actor he has performed at the Guthrie, the Children’s Theater Company and Mixed Blood Theater. He has collaborated as an actor, writer and director with Ragamala Music and Dance Theater. His one man play Sohrab and Rustum was selected by City Pages as one of the year’s 10 Best in 2002. His play, Indian Cowboy, also a solo performance, was presented at Mixed Blood Theater in January 2006, and selected as “Outstanding experimental theater work” in the Star Tribune’s Best of Twin Cities theater in 2006 and has been published in Asian
American Plays for a New Generation. Both plays have been presented at Asia Society in New York and at Stages Repertory Theatre in Houston. Zaraawar regularly performs a storytelling program, Children’s Stories from India at schools and libraries in the Twin Cities.

Zaraawar has an M.F.A. in Theatre from UC, San Diego and a B.A. from Bennington College in Vermont. He has studied with theater directors such as Anne Bogart and Tadashi Suzuki. Zaraawar has received numerous grants in support of his work, from the Jerome Foundation, the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Playwright’s Center among others. He has taught theater classes at many organizations in the Twin Cities, most recently as the Interim Program Director for the City Arts program at H.E.C.U.A.. He was also an Adjunct Professor at Hamline University in 2007. Zaraawar is a consultant and an Adjunct Career Counselor with Springboard for the Arts.

Program

Performed By Zarawaar Mistry
Music By Greg Herriges

Joko Sutrisno & Sumunar, Indonesian Music and Dance group .

A graduate of the Academy of Performing Arts in Surakarta, Central Java, Joko is a gifted Javanese gamelan performer, composer and teacher. He directed the gamelan ensemble at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, before coming to Minnesota in 1995. From 1995-2002 he served as music director for The Schubert Club’s gamelan program. He has collaborated with Katha Dance Theater, Ragamala Music and Dance Theater, Zeitgeist and Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater. Joko is an adjunct faculty member at Hamline University and the University of Minnesota.

Performers Accompanying Joko are:

Naomi Shinoda, Aimee Thostenson, Martha Mockus, Neal Hines, Nanda Sutrisno(dance), Tri Sutrisno (dance), Susannah Smith, Aaron Victorin-Vangerud, Lars Christensen, Daniel Furuta

Performance by Anu Krishnan & Group – Shruthilaya

Krithi :  Gajavadana Karuna (solo)

Raagam:  Sriranjini
Taalam:  Adi
Composer: Sri. Papanasamsivan

Krithi:   Akhilandeshwari (solo)

Raagam:  Dhwajavanti
Taalam:  Adi
Composer:  Sri. Muthuswamy Dikshitar

Krithi:  Hari Narayana (solo)

Raagam:  Tilang
Taalam:  Adi
Composer:  Sri.Purandara dasar

Performers for the above 3
Anu Krishnan (Singer)
Ethirajan Ramanujam (Miridangam)

Krithi:  Alaipayuthe  (Adult group)

Raagam:  Kaanada
Taalam:  Adi
Composer:  Sri.  Oothukadu Venkata Kavi
Performers
Anu Krishnan, Ramya Rajagopalan, Nithya Balakrishnan, Smitha Srinivasan,
Prasanna Desikan & Devi Chettiar, Ethirajan Ramanujam (Miridangam)

Krithi:  Bho Shambho (children’s group)

Raagam:  Revathi
Taalam: Adi
Composer:  Swami Dayanada Sarasawati
Performers
Anu Krishnan, Shree Ganesan, Prem Ganesan, Amulya Maripally & Yogita Thota, Ethirajan Ramanujam (Miridangam)

Joy Islam & Group – Jantri

Jantri – Pronaam

Pronaam – Start our journey with a praying

Jantri – 14 Years Later

14 Years Later – Composed in 1988 over a cup of tea in Lalmatia, Dhaka Bangladesh.

Jantri – The Man with the Bowl

The Man with the Bowl – It utilizes a beat pattern from an old Indian beat called Mata Taal incorporating 9 beat blues in between.

Jantri – Raag Bhupalee

Raag Bhupalee – Working Progress.

Joy Islam | Acoustic Guitar and Vocal
Joy Islam was part of the first heavy metal band called “In Dhaka” in Bangladesh and then in United States his first band called “Soup of the Day”. He played with the band called Tarang in 2001 and raised money for India’s earth quake victim. He is self taught guitar player. Though trained in Western Music, Joy’s style is lightly influenced by Indian Classical Ragas. He is also a professional sound engineer for Nine Volt Studio and Indian Music Society of Minnesota (IMSOM). He also plays guitar with Marcus Wise, Sumon Alam, Utpal Ghoshal, Lucky Akhand, Debashish Bhattacherjee, Sri Joydeep Gosh, Sri Subhen Chatterjee and worked under great music director Debu Bhattacherjee, Imtiaz Bulbul and Khokon bhai. He mixed album for Vinayak Torvi, Rajendra Nakod, Reza Khan, Pooja Goshwami, Elephant Road and Sumon Alam.

Ravi Prasad | Tabla, Dholak Harmonium and Vocal
Ravi Prasad is an accomplished musician based in the Twin Cities. Ravi holds a Master’s degree in Music from Prayag Sangeet Samiti Allahabad, India. He has performed several times locally and internationally and has won the President’s Award in New Delhi. Ravi plays half a dozen instruments and is at home in several musical styles. Ravi has won various prizes for solo performances in Harmonium, Banjo and Singing. Over the years he has matured into a harmonium player of great caliber. He has performed with some of India’s well known musicians such as Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Mukul Shivaputra, Pandit Siyaram Tiwari and others. Ravi’s accompaniment – at once dexterous, supportive and spontaneously inventive – combined with the rich repertoire that he has inherited from his gurus, and the inspiration that he draws from his peers has won him the admiration of music lovers and connoisseurs. He takes special interest in Global Fusion Music and is also a founding member of the fusion band Jantri.

Mashuk Rahman | Electric Guitar and Vocal
Mashuk is a great composer and a great story teller when it comes to guitar playing. There are several songs by him are still in the top chart in Bangladesh.Mashuk Rahman was also part of this heavy metal band InDhaka in Bangladesh music scene and he played with Soup of the day in Mankato. He played with Warphaze and Rockstrata bands in Bangladesh. He is one of the key composer for Jantri. Mashuk has a great guitar sound, he is very passionate when it comes to music. He released a cd in 2004 called Elephant Road in Bangladesh. He also played with Local band called Samosa and released a cd on 2010. He is with Jantri from the day one.

Mike Schultz | Bass and Upright Bass
Mike Schultz is a local Bass and Upright player. He plays with Urban Hillibilly Quartet.

Ethirajan Ramanujam | Mridangam and Ganjira
Ethirajan Ramanujam has been learning Mridangam, a south Indian percussion instrument, for the past 14 years. He is the Vice-President of the Youth Association of Classical Music (YACM, Chennai). He has performed in more than 1400 concerts to his list of concerts, all over India and Abroad. He had a musical tour to United Kingdom, in the year 2006, participating the work music festival held at Birmingham, UK. He has been awarded the “Ilam Isai Mamani award” from the Madras Kali Bari Temple. He has also been awarded the best Mridangist award (Laya Vadhyam Award) in the Youth series, Krishna Gana Sabha. He has also won many prizes including the prizes from Music Acamedy, Mylapore Fine arts, TAMBRAS, Krishna Gana Sabha etc. Ethirajan has also given many concerts in teleivisions like Sun TV, Jaya TV, Raj TV, Shankara TV, Mega Tv in India, to name a few. He has also accompanied senior artists like N.C.Soundaravalli, Lalitha Nandhini, Baby Sriram, Calcutta Vijayaragavan, Tiruvarur Girish to name a few.

Dr. Pooja Goswami Pavan (Vocal) (visiting faculty at the School of Music, University of Minnesota, teaching courses in Indian music & culture),
Dr. Allalaghatta Pavan (tabla) (Principal Research Scientist at Honeywell Labs) Matt Rahaim (harmonium) (Asst Professor of Music at the University of Minnesota)